Reading Room Blog

France

Destinations: France

A Brief Introduction to the Highlights of Alsace

Alsace is arguably the most unique region of France. As a place that has changed hands five times between France and Germany over the last 150 years, it is now... Read More »

Destinations: France

Four fantastic cycling tours for a true taste of France.

Few countries stir the imagination like France. You may have already pictured yourself bicycling through small villages composed of beautiful stone buildings, quaint cafés, and Romanesque churches that gaze across... Read More »

Travel Planning: Hotel Recommendations

Nadine’s Top Hotel Picks

She’s Not A Hotel Critic But she’s dreamed of being one. I have a confession to make. It has been somewhat of a secret dream of mine to be a... Read More »

Travel Planning: Food and Meals,  Destinations: France,  About ExperiencePlus!: Rider Spotlight,  Travel Stories

Seeking Supper: Adventures in Sète

New Friends And Local Favorites ExperiencePlus! Riders Find The Perfect Dinner Though it may sound counter intuitive, one of the most important elements of tour design and pre-trip planning is making... Read More »

About ExperiencePlus!: Rider Spotlight,  Travel Stories

Norie Quintos Cycles The Dordogne

Reflections On A Bike Tour Of The Dordogne Q & A With Norie Quintos Norie Quintos is an Editor at Large at Nat Geo Travel Media, as well as a... Read More »

St Malo, France where the ExperiencePlus! Brittany and Normandy tour begins.

Reviews

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

“All the Light We Cannot See” was on almost everyone’s top books of 2014 list and was also a finalist for the National Book Award. This intriguing story follows two... Read More »

A Year in Burgundy

Reviews

A Year in Burgundy Directed by David Kennard

My knowledge of wine is limited to what I can remember from the several wine tours I’ve been on with ExperiencePlus! and I’m confident that I would I would fail... Read More »

Sweet Crepes

Recipes

Breton Crêpes

John Giebler (our Director of Tours, and occasional tour leader in France and Italy) shares his favorite crêpe recipe in honor of the new ExperiencePlus! tour in Brittany and Normandy.... Read More »

Tarte Tatin

Recipes

Tarte Tatin

Two sisters, Carolina (1847-1911) and Stéphine Tatin (1838-1917), from Lamotte-Beuvron, a small village in the Loire Valley of France, are considered the creators of this wonderful tart. The sisters owned and... Read More »

Travel Planning: Movie and Reading List,  Reviews

Haute Cuisine: Movie Review

A new movie is on the playbill. As the film transports you to Paris and into the kitchen of personal cook to President of the Republic of France, we warn... Read More »

Reviews

Seven Ages of Paris by Alistair Horne

Reviewed by ExperiencePlus! traveler Pam Brills. If you have visited Paris, or plan to in conjunction with a bike ride through France, this is a must read.   Alistair Horne is... Read More »

Recipes

Peach Raspberry ‘Tart’

As we release new dates and tours for the 2014 season, particularly with our Paris to Lyon Plus! Marseille tour, and welcome in the final bounty of summertime fruits, we... Read More »

Travel Planning: Food and Meals,  Destinations: France,  Destinations: Italy

A Taste of Aphrodisiac Diamonds on Tour

By ExperiencePlus! Tour Leader Pia de Richemont What did Marilyn Monroe, Mussolini and President Truman have in common? Fame? Certainly. Insomnia? Quite likely. But the three of them also shared... Read More »

Chard Quiche

Recipes

Chard Quiche – From the Field to Your Plate

Many of you may remember Josette Smyrl who coordinated our hotels and meals in France for years. Josette has retired and lives in Provence with her husband and gardener extraordinaire... Read More »

Destinations: France

If Wishes Were Horses

Cycling on the island of Corsica has been on my wish list for nearly a decade so when I learned that I would be traveling there in September to join... Read More »

Destinations: France

Corsica and the 2013 Tour de France

In July 2013 the Tour de France, and the rest of the world, will discover what ExperiencePlus! has known for years: that Corsica, the “Island of Beauty” as first described... Read More »

About ExperiencePlus!

Accommodations We Love – Part 7

If our itinerary descriptions have whetted your appetite and you’re starting to daydream, let us help you set the stage with these splendid backdrops.  Proudly announcing Accommodations We Love Part... Read More »

Recipes

Zucchini Salad with Mint and Provençal Rosemary Almonds

With summer often comes an abundance of zucchini from the garden – and the ongoing challenge to find new ways to prepare them. Co-workers begin to avoid you and your... Read More »

Destinations: France

Cycling the Languedoc

From the moment I climbed on my bike and began pedaling through the streets in the heart of French villages, I was giddy—this is too cool.  With sweeping panoramas, Cathar... Read More »

Recipes

Provençal Melon with Beaumes de Venise Muscat

The ExperiencePlus! Bicycling through the Best of Provence Plus! the Luberon and Aix-en-Provence tour now goes through Beaumes de Venise. A lot of France’s melons grow nearby around Cavaillon, and... Read More »

Reviews

The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel

Ayla is Back! Jean M. Auel’s  Earth’s Children series introduced us to one of the original beautiful, strong, and self-sufficient female protagonist back in 1980 and in this last installment... Read More »

Destinations: France,  About ExperiencePlus!: Rider Spotlight

My Trip of a Lifetime by Sally Miller

I just completed the trip of my lifetime which is more commonly known as Bicycling the Best of Provence Plus! and the Luberon and Aix tour with ExperiencePlus!. I was... Read More »

About ExperiencePlus!,  Travel Planning: Hotel Recommendations

Accommodations We Love – Part 6

We’ve chosen several multi-night stays in this edition of Accommodations We Love. We don’t stay longer at these hotels because we fear you’ll never want to leave! Read up on... Read More »

Recipes

Crème Brûlée

When you travel to France, chances are you’ve got some culinary must-tastes on your list. While crepes and the delicately-crafted pastries in the corner patisseries are delightful, one dessert you... Read More »

Awards, Memberships and Reviews